Take a Break Scotland

About Take a Break Scotland grants

Take a Break is Scotland’s short break grant scheme for parent carers (unpaid carers and eligible kinship carers) of disabled or seriously ill children and young people aged 0-17.

This aim of the scheme is to improve unpaid carers’ quality of life, health and wellbeing by providing cash grants to help them access a short break from the day-to-day routine of caring. Carers can use Take a Break grants flexibly to help meet their interests and circumstances.

All grants are discretionary and subject to available funding at any time. Family Fund administer Take a Break on behalf of the Scottish Government.

From 2025, eligibility for Take a Break has changed. The programme will now provide grants to carers of disabled and seriously ill children and young people aged 0 to 17 years old.

Support for carers of young people aged 18 to 20

Carers of young adults aged 18 to 20, including young carers, who are seeking a short break should contact their local carer support organisation and/or carers centre for information and available funding, including Time to Live microgrants. Shared Care Scotland manages the Time to Live grant programme.

How can the Take a Break Scotland grant be used?

Carers can use grants for a break away, towards leisure activities or outings, sports equipment and much more. Grants can be used flexibly to access single or multiple breaks from caring.

We ask carers who receive a Take a Break Scotland grant to provide feedback on how they used it and the difference it made to them.

All grants are discretionary and subject to available funding at any time.

Family Fund administer Take a Break on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for a Take a Break Scotland grant you must:

• have lived in Scotland continuously for six months or longer
• be a UK resident
• be caring for a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 0 to 17 years who lives at home with you
• have a child or or young person that is not looked after by the local authority (e.g. in foster care).

You must also provide supporting documentation with your application.

Updated application form

If you have applied to Take A Break Scotland before, you may notice that the application form is a bit different this year. This is because we’ve made some improvements to the application form to make it quicker and simpler to apply. We hope this improves your application experience, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Family Fund is a member of Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights. Together are an alliance of Scottish Children’s charities who share a vision that all children and young people growing up in Scotland have their human rights respected, protected and fulfilled. You can find out more about Children’s rights and the UNCRC in Scotland on the Together website.